"Vrigori already volunteered for first. Gwydion, want last instead? Or another. As a warrior, my sleep can be broken up, I'll take a middle watch."

"Last will do"

Arandyl helps with the camp's setting as well, gathering necessary wood to burn and stone to shelter the fire.

"Excellent.  I shall get some good sleep then if the watch is covered." Arandyl says, looking for a spot to rest after the camp has been arranged.  He has no bedroll, so he chooses a spot with the least amount of rock or root and lies down.  He uses his pack, of course, for a headrest and keeps his gear close to hand.  Once situated, he will begin resting his eyes while listening to the mutterings around the campfire.  Hopefully, he is lulled to sleep soon.

"I'll take 2nd or 3rd watch, wake me when it is my time." Birahu tells the others and lays in a soft spot on his pack, wrapped in his cloak.

A quiet but cool night passes by. No guard on the hilltop ?? You could sit just under the crestline & carefully look over at random times.

In reply to Aslanii (msg # 35):

That would work, or sitting on the hilltop so you don't stand out on the horizon.

In reply to Aslanii (msg # 35):

Yes, there was going to be a guard on the hilltop.

Gwydion will patrol around the hill, just below the peak. It will help him keep an eye on things from all directions, and also help prevent him falling asleep.


OOC: No sleep immunity for elves in this edition!

Rising early, Arandyl opens his spellbook and begins his morning ritual of memorizing his one spell.

The second person on watch notices a few faint campfires way off in the distance. One would assume they are the knight's men signaling their positions to each other ...

Next day starts briskly, I assume Arandyl awakens everyone at sunrise ?? I assume Birahu explains what he saw last night, referencing them in the morning light. Laying some branches out pointing towards the lights he saw ... It would appear the knight's men are in a rough line advancing towards you, possible a few days off. Plans for today's movement ??

"I saw several campfires last night out on the plains in that direction. I placed a few branches on the ground pointing in the general directions. They looked to be a day or more away, probably the knights. I do believe we're to continue on and locate the brigands."

Birahu eats his rations and gets a drink of water, then packs anything he has used over the night back in to it's proper place. Then he waited for the others to get ready to go on.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Tue 08 Aug 2023.

"Well if everyone can have a quick bite to eat, might we be off? There is a chance the bandits will slow their pace for us, but 'tis doubtful. The sooner we are off the better."

Zenia immediately turns to her rations and wineskin upon completion of her words.

It appears that we are off once breakfast is done.

I will ask if the elf Gwyion does his MU spell study during breakfast ?? Does Zenia have any clerical duties / ministrations after waking up ??

Moving along along thru the hilly region is fairly easy for a small group. Just after noon time, you all hear the hounds give some soft whining noises. Kelper brings them forward, stopping at each PC to whisper "They have scented something."

I will assume everyone stops in place, quietly. At the front of the line, Kelper has the hounds sniff about, they point to your right, up slope thru some pine trees & brush.

The elves will note that a breeze is gently blowing up over the hill top.

"Be mindful." Arandyl whispers lowly, unslinging his bow and reaching for an arrow.  "We will not get help from the knights till the morrow."

Gwydion prepares his spell for the day before he eats a quick breakfast.

OOC: Since I didn't use it the day before, do I still have it prepared? I don't plan to switch it out. But if you'd like, I can prepare spells anew each game day.

________________

When the hounds pick up a scent, Gwydion stows his spear, which he often uses as a walking stick, in a frog* on a harness across his back and prepares his sling. He loops one end over his index finger, and holds the other between ring and middle fingers, with a stone in his left hand ready to drop into the pouch.

"Up and over? Or circle around?"


*"frog" is the technical term for a belt or harness loop for storing a weapon!

Birahu stores hos spear as well, and retrieves his crossbow and loads it. Prepared to defend, he's ready to go. "Want to go over, or around?" he asks the others.

OOC: Which direction is the wind blowing - toward us or away, upwind or downwind of the trees?
And Gwydion, you should still have your spell memorised - it only leaves your mind when you cast it or consciously choose to replace it with another.

Zenia clutches her holy symbol and concentrates while she mutters a morning prayer to her god, then is good to go.

"Through the trees, no?"

Birahu leads the way up the hill toward the trees! Crouched over to cut his target size.

Slow and cautiously, Arandyl follows the lead of Birahu, an arrow nocked in his bow in readiness. If the brigands are atop the hill, they will have a tactical advantage, but there is naught to do about it.

Arandyl glances at the hounds to see if they have changed their behaviour.

Vrigori follows near the rear of the group, a pellet in his sling and ready to fly.

In reply to Gwydion (msg # 45):

Thank you for the terminology used & a definition !!

I have no issues with retaining your known & unused spells overnight. I dare say a few minutes to "brush the cobwebs away" from overnight. I don't recall reading anything about this in particular.

The breeze blows over the hill in front of you, then down over/around you. Thus making you downwind. This is about 200 yards upwards, a semi-gentle slope. If everyone is willing to take their time, watch their steps, no need for a stealth roll.

The hounds appear well trained, they all "point" upwards. Kelper & the hounds bring up the rear. Svenner stays back with Kelper. Svenner steps in someone else's footprints, as best he can.

I will post what I believe the combat sequence is. Please note that MU that move cannot spellcast. Since you cannot see anything worth-while at present, no problems there.

Birahu takes it slow and easy, keeping his eyes open for trips and snares and other such traps. He was also wary of pits, he hated pits!

Zenia also takes it slow and steady, staying behind Birahu. She has her sling ready for any danger.

2 out of 5 are in sneak & creep along mode. Svenner takes note of everyone, he's definitely not a sneaky person. Kelper appears to do so easily, hunter as well ??